Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a root vegetable. Its leaves, stems, stalks and root corms are eaten most frequently in Africa and Asia. Colocasia esculenta is a perennial, tropical plant primarily grown as a root vegetable for its edible, starchy corm. The plant has rhizomes of different shapes and sizes. Leaves can be 10-16 in long and sprout from the rhizome. They are dark green above and light green beneath. The leaves  are  heart shaped and can vary in size due to available light, water, and nutrient availability.
 
Taro grows in moist shady soils and is perfect as a border plant around ponds or to accentuate wetland plantings. It is sometimes called Elephant ear because of its shape. Taro grows fast in rich loamy soils and spreads via root shoots. Depending on light and available nutrients, it can be as small as 6 inches  or as big as 48 inches tall.